Container



A. J. TANNER jm, El, 394i,

CONTAINER Filed July 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN TOR. JCZ/ A. J. 'ANNER2,229,426

CONTAINER Filed July 20, 19557 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 yeo Patented Jan. 2l,1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention has relation to containers useful for packing,shipping and displaying merchandise. Amongst other objects of theinvention one is to provide a simple, economical and efflcient containeror package which is so designed that the blanks therefor may be producedwith comparatively little waste. Further, the blanks are so designedthat the container may be set up by the packer with comparatively littlelabor being involved in the assembling operation. Furthermore thedealer, when opening the package and setting it on the counter, forexample, to display the merchandise therein,

, is not required to manipulate any member or members of the containerwhere it is necessary that the operator should have instructions whichmust be followed to properly set up the container into the displayposition.

The improved container, due to special design and construction thereof,oifers particular advantages as dispensing means for merchandise in theformV of articles packed separately in the container, or withinindividual cartons.

The improved container is so constructed and arranged that the requiredrigidity of the container can be obtained with the use of comparativelylight weight paper board of which the container is usually made.Furthermore the rigidity of the container is retained even when only afew articles are left therein.

'Ihe present invention can readily be applied to various types ofcontainer for mechandise, and in one form more particularly with asystem of packing and display which forms the subject matter of PatentNo. 1,680,309. With this system two container and display units arepacked in a single package and each of the units has its individualdisplay card, which when packed overlaps the other unit and in this waythe display card is packed and is always retained in a rigid uprightposition, therefore, a uniform permanent position of the display card ismaintained. Further the dealer is only required to remove the units fromthe package, and one or both units are placed on the counter without anymanipulation by the operator of any devices.

In carrying out the present invention various embodiments thereof havebeen designed and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fullydescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a reduced perspective view showing one form of the containerwherein all the contents stand on the same level;

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view with the change that the contentsare arranged to produce a double tier effect;

Fig. 3 is a similar perspective view wherein the contentsI are arrangedto produce a triple tier effect;

(Cl. 20G-45) Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line I-4 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2; y

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 0I Fig. 3;

Fig. 'I is a bottom plan view of the container or unit;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of one form of the display card;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the same card;

Fig. l0 is a front elevation of another form of card or insert member;

Fig. ll is a sectional view taken on line iI-il of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the blank forming the body of the improvedcontainer or unit;

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified form of thecontainer or unit and Fig. 14 shows a modification of a device used forretaining the insert member in place.

Referring to said drawings, in the several embodiments of said inventionas illustrated, the improved container or unit is composed of two sheetblanks of which one, designated as A, forms thev body member havingfront wall I, side walls 2 and back wall 3. The blank A has a glue lap 4to permit gluing by automatic machine operation in the usual way so thatthe body member will be in the form of a band. The blank A has the frontand side aps a and b depending and connected respectively to the frontwall i and side walls 2. The other blank B comprises the show card 5yand a folding bottom end ,forming a rear flap c. These two blanks A andB are used with only slight variations to make up th'e different stylesof containers illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Referring now more particularly to Figures l, 4 and 7, therein the twoblanks A and B, shown in Figures 8 and l2, are employed in setting upthis type of a container. The blank or body member A is opened and theside flaps b are folded at right angles and then the front ilap ortongue a is folded so that the portion a1 overlaps the portion b1 of theflap b, and the portion b overlaps the end or tongue a of the flap a.The insert member B is then placed in position and the folding end c isengaged under the tonguev a". The aps a, b and c interlocked togetherform the complete bottom of the container and an effectualself-retentive means for said bottom. In most instances, especially whenthe contents are comparatively light, with the aid of friction, thebottom will remain closed and the show card will stand in an erectposition. Where positive means are required to prevent displacement ofthe card and bottom closure, an interlocking device for uniting the twomembers is employed and such device comprises the tab 6 cut out of thecard 5, and this tab engages the slot I in the back Wall 3.

Referring now to Fig. 2, with this example, the blanks A and Billustrated in Figures 10 and 12 are used and the operation ofassembling is the same only that the bottom fold c has the additionalfolds 8, 9, and I0, and the fold I0 is glued to the bottom of the cardmember so as to form a tubular shape. It should be noted that the foldsc, Il, 9, and I0 are arranged so that the printed or prepared surface ofthe board used is exposed. 'I'he device just described provides a stepused for the purpose of elevating the back row or rows of merchandise soas to produce what is known as a double tier container. With thisexample the connection afforded by the tab and slot connection 6--1 isessential so as to prevent toppling forward of the contents when thefront row is removed.

Referring now to Figure 3 illustrating a triple tier container. In thisexample it will be noted that the merchandise, in the form of cartons,is arranged in three rows, the rows being e1evated one above the other.This effect is obtained by use of the blanks A and B, as illustrated inFigures 10 and 12, only the folding end c is higher than in the previousinstance and of a depth to receive two cartons instead of three in arow. An additional elevating member or step d is inserted, and thisdevice is in the form of a tube having an extension II which abutsagainst the front wall of the container so as to hold the step d againstthe step c, and if required a cut out tongue I2 is engaged in a slot I2lprovided in the riser of the step c. It should be noted in suchinstances where means are required to prevent the contents from fallingoff the treads of the steps, a tab I3 is cut out from the tread, andwhich tab stands in a vertical position when folded so as to keep thecontents in place.

In order to effect positive engagement of the insert member with theclosure fiap a, in both examples shown in Figures 5 and 6, the tongue ais engaged in slot I4 provided at the bottom of step c.

Referring to Figure 14, herein a modification is shown comprising atongue I5 cut out of the back wall of the insert member, and whichtongue I5 is arranged to snap into engagement in a registering slot I6located at the bottom corner fold of the back wall 3, and because ofthis engagement the show card will not be displaced should the containerbe lifted by grasping the display card in the performance of theoperation.

The improved container as hereinbefore described and illustrated by thedrawings, is in the form of a container or unit having a rigid andpermanently upright show card, which is an advantage when two units arepacked in a `single shipping package.

It will be understood that the improved container can readily be appliedin such instances where only a single unit is packed, and in which casethe show card 5 should be folded down to lie against the container unit.In order to get the particular advantage of a constantly rigid show cardthe modification shown in Figure 13 has been devised. With this example,the blanks similar to those shown in either Figures 8 or 1f) and 12 areused with the exception that the back wall of the insert member B is cutshort, and the show card 5 is a separate member capable of having alimited independent sliding movement. This movement is allowed by slotI1 which is engaged by the tab 6. The show card has the crease IB so asto bend at this point.

With the example last described, a single unit or container is packedfor shipping by pulling'the card upwardly so that the crease I8 will bein line with the top edge of the container and then the card may befolded down. When the container is set up for display of the contentsthe card is pushed down to the extent permitted by the slot I'I, so thatthe fold I8 will be below the top edge of the container back wall andthereby the show card will be maintained in a constantly rigid uprightposition.

Various modications may be made in carry ing out the details of theinvention hereinbefore described, and it is to be understood that anymodification coming fairly within the terms of the appended claims shallbe covered thereby,

I claim:

1. A packing and display container comprising an outer or body memberhaving defined front,

back and side walls, side fiaps connected to and depending from saidside walls, a front flap or tongue connected to and depending from saidfront wall, said-side and front iiaps constituting a partial bottomclosure for said body member,

a separate sheet member within said body memf ber having a bottomfolding extension interlocking with said front and side aps to completethe bottom closure of said container, said bottom folding extensionbeing arranged to fold to provide a step or elevating device and saidstep having a slot therein to receive said front flap or tongue.

2. A packing and display container comprising an outer or body memberhaving defined front,

back and side walls, side iiaps connected to and depending from saidside walls, a front flap or tongue connected to and depending from saidfront wall, said side and front flaps forming a partial bottom for saidbody member, a separate sheet member lying against said back memberwithin said body member having a bottom extension folded to form a stepor elevating device interlocking with said front iiap to complete thebottom of said container, and said sheet member having a portionextending above the top edge of said back wall to provide a show oradvertising card for the container.

3. A packing and display container comprising an outer or body memberhaving dened front,

back and side walls, side iiaps connected to and depending from saidside walls, a front flap or tongue connected to and depending from saidfront wall, said side and front flap forming a partial bottom closurefor said body member, a separate sheet member within said body member.'1

ARNOLD J. TANNER.

